Global Investigative Journalism Conference (GIJC13)

On April 4, 2013, news outlets across the world began publishing stories that exposed the secret offshore dealings of powerful international figures, including top politicians, billionaires, known criminals and oligarchs. The articles were based on a cache of 2.5 million leaked confidential files obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists – the largest stockpile of offshore information ever made available to a media organization. The investigation – called Offshore Leaks by the public – quickly ignited reactions around the world, sparking official probes, high-profile resignations and a renewed sense of urgency among world leaders that this is the time to rein in offshore abuses.

This panel will take you inside the Offshore Leaks investigation, a massive and ongoing cross-border reporting effort that has involved more than 115 reporters in 60 countries. It’s considered one of the largest collaborations in journalism history. ICIJ director Gerard Ryle will talk about the origins of the data and how he handled sources and dealt with media organizations all over the world; ICIJ deputy director Marina Walker Guevara will discuss how the team cracked 260 gigabytes of financial information and coordinated reporting in dozens of countries; and CBC reporter Frederic Zalac will talk about how his team found and investigated stories relevant to Canada in the rather intricate leaked document trove.